{"id":65429,"date":"2026-09-28T19:15:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/?p=65429"},"modified":"2026-09-29T15:19:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:19:25","slug":"viscosity-units-converter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/viscosity-units-converter\/","title":{"rendered":"Viscosity Units Converter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Convert Viscosity Units<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"65429\" data-favorite-title=\"Viscosity Converter\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/viscosity-units-converter\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert between dynamic viscosity units (Pa\u00b7s, mPa\u00b7s, Poise, cP) and kinematic viscosity units (m\u00b2\/s, mm\u00b2\/s, Stokes, cSt). Enter a value, pick a unit, and add the density to switch between the two families.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-physic\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/viscosity-units-converter\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-65429\" data-post=\"65429\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input is-1\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Viscosity value<\/label><div class=\"field-group\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"viscosity_value\" id=\"field-1\" aria-describedby=\"calc-info-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"100\"\/><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-2\" name=\"unit\" aria-label=\"Unit\"><option value=\"Pa\u00b7s\">Pa\u00b7s<\/option><option value=\"mPa\u00b7s\">mPa\u00b7s<\/option><option value=\"P\">Poise (P)<\/option><option value=\"cP\" selected>cP<\/option><option value=\"m2\/s\">m\u00b2\/s<\/option><option value=\"mm2\/s\">mm\u00b2\/s<\/option><option value=\"St\">Stokes (St)<\/option><option value=\"cSt\">cSt<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-1\">Dynamic: Pa\u00b7s, Poise, cP \u00b7 Kinematic: m\u00b2\/s, Stokes, cSt.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-3\">Density (\u03c1)<\/label><div class=\"field-group\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"density_\" id=\"field-3\" aria-describedby=\"calc-info-3\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"0.85\"\/><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-4\" name=\"unit\" aria-label=\"Unit\"><option value=\"kg\/m3\">kg\/m\u00b3<\/option><option value=\"g\/cm3\" selected>g\/cm\u00b3<\/option><option value=\"lb\/ft3\">lb\/ft\u00b3<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><small id=\"calc-info-3\">Used to convert between dynamic and kinematic viscosity (\u03bd = \u03bc \/ \u03c1).<\/small><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"65429\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Converted Viscosities<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result is-column\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Equivalent viscosities in all common units<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"65429\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">1<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Viscosity Converter Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[ \\mu = \\nu \\cdot \\rho \\qquad \\nu = \\frac{\\mu}{\\rho} \\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(\\mu\\) \u2014 dynamic viscosity (Pa\u00b7s)<\/li>\n<li>\\(\\nu\\) \u2014 kinematic viscosity (m\u00b2\/s)<\/li>\n<li>\\(\\rho\\) \u2014 density of the fluid (kg\/m\u00b3)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The two formulas link dynamic and kinematic viscosity through density. Within each family, units are converted with fixed factors: \\(1\\ \\text{Pa\u00b7s} = 10\\ \\text{P} = 1000\\ \\text{cP}\\) and \\(1\\ \\text{m}^2\/\\text{s} = 10^4\\ \\text{St} = 10^6\\ \\text{cSt}\\).<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Viscosity Converter \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> an oil with dynamic viscosity 100 cP and density 0.85 g\/cm\u00b3 (850 kg\/m\u00b3).<\/p>\n<p>\\[ \\mu = 100\\ \\text{cP} = 100 \\times 0.001 = 0.1\\ \\text{Pa\u00b7s} = 1\\ \\text{P} \\]<\/p>\n<p>\\[ \\nu = \\frac{\\mu}{\\rho} = \\frac{0.1}{850} = 1.17647 \\times 10^{-4}\\ \\text{m}^2\/\\text{s} \\approx 117.65\\ \\text{cSt} \\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> 100 cP equals 0.1 Pa\u00b7s, 100 mPa\u00b7s, 1 Poise; at 850 kg\/m\u00b3 it also equals 1.17647 \u00d7 10\u207b\u2074 m\u00b2\/s, about 117.65 mm\u00b2\/s (cSt), and 1.17647 St.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to Use the Viscosity Converter<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter your value in the <strong>Viscosity value<\/strong> field.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the unit of that value from the <strong>Unit<\/strong> dropdown \u2014 dynamic units (Pa\u00b7s, mPa\u00b7s, Poise, cP) or kinematic units (m\u00b2\/s, mm\u00b2\/s, St, cSt).<\/li>\n<li>Enter the fluid density in the <strong>Density (\u03c1)<\/strong> field and select its unit (kg\/m\u00b3, g\/cm\u00b3, or lb\/ft\u00b3). Density is required because converting between dynamic and kinematic viscosity depends on it.<\/li>\n<li>Read the results: the calculator shows the equivalent value in every other common unit, split into a dynamic viscosity (\u03bc) block and a kinematic viscosity (\u03bd) block.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Dynamic vs. Kinematic Viscosity<\/h2>\n<p>Viscosity describes a fluid's resistance to flow, but it is expressed in two distinct ways. <strong>Dynamic viscosity<\/strong> (\\(\\mu\\), also called absolute viscosity) measures the internal friction of the fluid \u2014 the shear stress needed to produce a given velocity gradient. Its SI unit is the pascal-second (Pa\u00b7s); the older CGS unit is the poise (P), with 1 Pa\u00b7s = 10 P. The centipoise (cP) is the most common practical unit, and conveniently 1 cP = 1 mPa\u00b7s exactly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kinematic viscosity<\/strong> (\\(\\nu\\)) is the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density. It describes how the fluid flows under gravity alone, which is why it appears in Reynolds number calculations, lubrication charts, and fuel specifications. Its SI unit is m\u00b2\/s; the CGS unit is the stokes (St), and 1 cSt = 1 mm\u00b2\/s exactly.<\/p>\n<p>The two quantities are linked by density: \\(\\nu = \\mu \/ \\rho\\). This is why the calculator asks for density \u2014 without it, a value in cP cannot be converted to cSt. For water at 20 \u00b0C, \\(\\mu \\approx 1\\ \\text{cP}\\) and \\(\\nu \\approx 1\\ \\text{cSt}\\), because the density of water is close to 1 g\/cm\u00b3. For oils, which are less dense and far more viscous, the two numbers differ significantly.<\/p>\n<p>When interpreting the result, always check which family a specification refers to. Lubricant datasheets typically quote kinematic viscosity in cSt at 40 \u00b0C and 100 \u00b0C, while polymer and food-industry data often use dynamic viscosity in mPa\u00b7s. Mixing them up leads to errors of an order of magnitude or more.<\/p>\n<h2>Conversion Factors and Typical Values<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Unit<\/th>\n<th>Equals<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1 Pa\u00b7s<\/td>\n<td>1000 mPa\u00b7s = 10 P = 1000 cP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 mPa\u00b7s<\/td>\n<td>1 cP = 0.001 Pa\u00b7s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 Poise (P)<\/td>\n<td>0.1 Pa\u00b7s = 100 cP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 m\u00b2\/s<\/td>\n<td>10\u2076 mm\u00b2\/s = 10\u2074 St = 10\u2076 cSt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 St<\/td>\n<td>100 cSt = 10\u207b\u2074 m\u00b2\/s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 cSt<\/td>\n<td>1 mm\u00b2\/s = 10\u207b\u2076 m\u00b2\/s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For orientation: water at 20 \u00b0C is about 1 cP \/ 1 cSt, honey is roughly 10 000 cP, and a typical SAE 30 motor oil has a kinematic viscosity near 300 cSt at 40 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n<h2>Assumptions and Limitations<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The conversion between dynamic and kinematic viscosity assumes a single, constant density. Viscosity itself changes strongly with temperature, so use the density and viscosity measured at the same temperature.<\/li>\n<li>The calculator treats the fluid as a Newtonian fluid, whose viscosity does not depend on shear rate. Non-Newtonian fluids (paints, ketchup, blood, polymer melts) have no single viscosity value, so a converted number is only meaningful at a specific shear condition.<\/li>\n<li>Density must be greater than zero; the calculator rejects zero or negative values because the division \\(\\nu = \\mu\/\\rho\\) would be undefined.<\/li>\n<li>Compressible fluids (gases) have low but nonzero viscosities, and their density varies with pressure \u2014 enter the density at the actual operating conditions for a correct kinematic value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you also need to convert densities between kg\/m\u00b3, g\/cm\u00b3, and lb\/ft\u00b3 for other work, try the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/density-units-converter\/\">Density Converter<\/a>. Related fluid and thermodynamic tools include the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/pressure\/\">Pressure Converter<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/converters\/thermal-conductivity\/\">Thermal Conductivity Converter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert between dynamic viscosity units (Pa\u00b7s, mPa\u00b7s, Poise, cP) and kinematic viscosity units (m\u00b2\/s, mm\u00b2\/s, Stokes, cSt). Enter a value, pick a unit, and add the density to switch between the two families.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-65429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-converters","tag-physics-units"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65429"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65733,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65429\/revisions\/65733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}